Saint Alexander, 1525

Bernardino Luini

Bernardino Luini, a celebrated Milanese painter, followed the pictorial traditions of Leonardo da Vinci. His style is characterized by soft, rounded forms and simplified structures. These panels originally formed part of an altarpiece painted for the Church of Saint Sisinio a Mendrisio near Lake Lugano. The five small panels depicting "The Story of the Val di Non" (F.1965.1.038.1-5.P) formed the "predella", while Saints Catherine (F.1965.1.039.2.P) and Alexander were mounted to the right of the central image.